Key player: Running back John Hubert ran for 126 yards, all but nine coming in the second half.

Key play: Andre McDonald made a one-handed catch on third-and-3 to extend K-State's final drive.

Key stat: K-State again dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 38:28 to Missouri's 21:32.

Key perspective: K-State is 5-0 for the first time since 2000.

GAME KEYSKey player: Running back John Hubert ran for 126 yards, all but nine coming in the second half.Key play: Andre McDonald made a one-handed catch on third-and-3 to extend K-State's final drive.Key stat: K-State again dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 38:28 to Missouri's 21:32.Key perspective: K-State is 5-0 for the first time since 2000.

MANHATTAN — Nothing much changes in this insulated little world, where Bill Snyder parks in the same stall and wears a path in the same stretch of carpet every morning.

Everything Snyder knows about Kansas State football happens here, and really, what else is there to know?

“I pay attention to what goes on in this building and, once in a while, wherever that is I live,” Snyder said.

Outside is where things change, and things are changing now. K-State is 5-0 after Saturday’s 24-17 win against Missouri, sure to climb from a No. 20 national ranking, and the narrative is shifting fast. The Wildcats have gone from a cute success story to a team that must be taken seriously, though from Snyder’s perspective, it’s hard to pinpoint the change. It’s like staring at the same patch of grass and trying to watch it grow.

“I’ve always thought that we were capable of it,” Snyder said. “The idea just goes back to what we say all the time: It’s just getting a little better and a little bit better.”

Reluctant converts will say K-State’s first 5-0 start in 11 years is the product of opportunity more than skill, and there’s some truth to that. The Wildcats have lived on their opponents’ mistakes, and they did so again Saturday, exploiting a sloppy performance by the favored Tigers.

But this is a skill in itself, having the patience to wait for a good team to take a false step.

“There are a lot of good teams out there, but a lot of times those really good teams kill themselves,” wide receiver Chris Harper said. “We try to be the most disciplined and the most tough team on the field.”

K-State didn’t have to wait long for Missouri’s first mistake. Quarterback James Franklin threw a pass into the chest of safety Ty Zimmerman on the Tigers’ first play from scrimmage, an interception that gave K-State a short field and a quick touchdown.

The score was 24-3 when Missouri finally found life, and by then, it was too late. The Tigers marched for two fourth-quarter touchdowns to pull within 24-17, but K-State regained possession and bled the final five minutes from the clock, aided by a facemask penalty on Missouri and a clutch third-down catch from tight end Andre McDonald.

“That was a Pat Roberts play,” Snyder said, referring to the Republican Senator. “Pat likes to throw to the tight end.”

Saturday was a good day for politicians, with Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon making a pregame appearance in the press box. He was there to talk about the SEC, presumably, though this wasn’t the ending Missouri envisioned for its week in the realignment spotlight.

Poor Mizzou. The Tigers waged a full-scale abstinence campaign when the Big 12 cast landmark votes this week, then saw their SEC flirtation upstaged by the Big 12’s move to add TCU. Saturday ended with K-State students chanting “Big 12” at the Tigers’ soggy sideline, proving once again that nobody steps on its own tail quite like Missouri.

Who knows if the realignment drama weighed on the Missouri football team, but the Tigers certainly looked like their minds were in Starkville, Miss., Gainesville, Fla., or some other far-flung location.

Not that the Wildcats gave any thought to Missouri’s mental state.

“We weren’t really worried whether they were in it or out of it,” linebacker Tre Walker said. “I think we were just worried about whether we were in it.”

The Wildcats are in it now, whatever it might be. The zone, the race, the national picture — everything is in play for K-State at 5-0.

It all goes back to Snyder, who should merit serious consideration for Big 12 coach of the year. He avoids these big-picture conversations, though when pressed, he acknowledges the obvious: These past five games have been the most encouraging stretch of his three-year return.

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for following agreed-upon rules of
civility. Posts and comments do not reflect the views of this site.
Posts and comments are automatically checked for inappropriate
language, but readers might find some comments offensive or
inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the
"Flag as offensive" link below the comment.

But comeon Seth, give me a year when Oklahoma didnt have a top 25 team....thats right,i cant think of one recently....Im not saying KSU is going to beat them, i dont think thats gonna happen, but i didnt hear too many people thinking KSU would be 5-0...Heck 5 wins is more than most experts thought they would get all year....Give credit where it is due..KSU,,5-0...

the top 25. OU finished that season 8–5. Your point was exactly what again?

Besides, I was praising, not denouncing KSU's 5-0 record (and likely 7-0) when they host, in all likelihood, a 7-0 OU squad on 10/29, hence, my previous statement of "Their [KSU] game against Oklahoma on 10/29 could be interesting."

And surely you can comprehend the irony behind my "Osceola" reference, even though the reference itself doesn't pertain to KSU specifically, correct?

Glad to see the Cats win another game and wish them continued success as they have a tough schedule the rest of the way out.

Can't stay enough good things about coach Snyder. As KSU already found out once, he will be tough to replace when he decides to call it quits. What makes Snyder such a great coach is not what he does on the field. It is how he takes mid-range recruits and makes them believe in themselves and the team. With the exception of Arthur Brown (and Bryce whatever his status may be) there are no five star recruits, not even sure if there are any 4 star recruits on the team. But he takes those players who come to K-State and makes many of them into 4 or 5 star players which is much more important than being 4 or 5 star recruits. He also teaches them discipline and the value of hard work.

There are a lot of coaches like Snyder throughout amateur sports but I don't think there are any who has had such a major impact on one program like coach Snyder. I have personally meet and spoke with Coach Snyder on several occasions and he is one of the niciest guys you could meet.

Your right Clark. Coach made good players out of guys that really shouldn't have even been playing DI football. He has always chosen players that have something to prove. Just look at UT. Their roster is loaded with 4 and 5 star recruits, and Mac can't put together a consistently winning program !!! 4's and 5's think the coach and team owes them something.....Does the name Bryce Brown ring a bell ?